title: Receptor protein tyrosine phosphatases: involvement in cell-cell interaction and signaling.
abstract: Receptor protein tyrosine phosphatases (RPTPs) represent a relatively new family of cell-surface receptors consisting of a variable, putative ligand-binding ectodomain followed by a single transmembrane segment and one or two intracellular catalytic domains. The RPTPs are thought to transduce extracellular signals by dephosphorylating tyrosine-phosphorylated intracellular substrates. As such, they are the enzymatic counterparts of the well studied receptor tyrosine kinases. However, little is known about the signaling mechanisms and biological functions of the RPTPs. Recent studies show that the extracellular domain of certain RPTPs can mediate either homophilic or heterophilic interactions and suggest a role in cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion, possibly via an action on catenins. This review will focus on the role of RPTPs in cell-cell interaction and the possible biological implications.
authors.affiliation: The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Division of Cellular Biochemistry, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Zondag
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Moolenaar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015820:Cadherins / Q000502:physiology; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D017027:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases / Q000502:physiology*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D017027:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases